Garmin - Forerunner 955 Solar

Went from a Fitbit to a Garmin Forerunner 955 and haven’t looked back. It’s made me a better, faster runner.

I dont understand everyone being so negative, Ive had my FR955 for 2 years doing weekly training and havent had any problem, the tracking is accurate if your swimming technique is decent.

I recently got a 955 on Prime Day for $320. I’m loving it as a replacement for my Apple Watch.

The 955 was $320 USD. The 965 is significantly more.

I've been trying to figure out exactly this right now.... Here's some info which may help. I have an Apple Ultra 2 and that is my everyday smartwatch. It works OK for run run tracking and there's a pretty good app for surf tracking. I just recently tried it with swim and it's OK. The auto sets feature (e.g. recognizing 4 laps as a 100) is pretty reliable, but I don't think that the automatic split times are especially accurate. HR is somewhat accurate. I've tried both the built-in workouts app as well as the [swim.com](http://swim.com) app and although the latter is generally better for "real" swimming it doesn't really fit with my training workflow which involves transferring workouts to Training Peaks. I also wear prescription goggles (-3.0) and find the display very difficult to read in certain scenarios, especially when the screen dims. Some of the data fields are ridiculously small and there is no way to change them. I also have a couple of Garmin devices (Forerunner 955 and Epix gen 2) and for the sake of this discussion both are the same with the exception of the screen technology. The Epix is AMOLED and objectively "better" but the 955 is so much easier to read at the pool. Garmin's auto rest feature (automatic lap/set vs rest feature) is almost good. The issue is that the motion detection is way too sensitive so if I move my arm at all during rest it thinks I'm still swimming. The algorithm also has trouble with rests shorter than 20s so it's common to see workout sets recorded as one big swim blob with some periods of no movement sprinkled in. HR accuracy is similar to apple... at least it was similar for the few times that I wore both to compare. I think that I've settled on wearing the 955 for swimming in the manual mode where I have to press the lap button at the start end end of each rest period. This gives me the most accurate representation of what I did for that session along with pace and HR data that makes sense within the context of the workout. The display is super-easy to read and gives me the information that I need in the pool. The transfer to Training Peaks is seamless and everything appears to be working well at this point. At some point I'm sure I'll stop caring about the exact structure of the workout that I did and just use the watch to record the whole thing. It is possible to pre-build workouts in both platforms and there are virtual coaching products that work with both. I never investigated what's available as I have a human coach who takes care of dictating my daily torture. I will say that having the watch execute the workout isn't all it's cracked up to be. Neither platform is especially good about providing visibility into what is coming up and in some cases barely conveys what you're supposed to be doing right now. If the watch messes up with counting laps then it could put you into a rest period at the wrong time and generally get you out of place in your workout. In some cases it's extremely difficult to go back and repeat a section of a workout. I've gone back to the post-it note stuck to my water bottle as the high-tech way of bringing my workout to the pool. With the workout transcribed in pencil and a rubber band as a safety it's pretty much fool proof.

I went through exactly the same scenario recently. Here's the brief version of what I found. Apple Watch Alone: Does an excellent job of recording sessions, but the data display during the workout is limited and doesn't include some fields I want. Personally I found the display slightly difficult to read. It was also quite frustrating that when transferred to Training Peaks the workout was broken up into 25yd pool lengths rather than the actual sets I swam. Apple + swim.com: This one works really well. I'm still not thrilled with the data display, but it is more useful than AW alone. Recording accuracy is excellent. The only issue that I had was the quality of the downloaded data into Training Peaks. No matter how I did it (and I took a number of different approaches) the HR data was wonky. Garmin (I'm using the 955, but they're all essentially the same): Data display is fully customizable so I can show exactly what I want and the rest timer display is useful. Note that the 955 has the older MIP display rather than the AMOLED that is all the rage now. The MIP is absolutely my preference as it is far easier to read in/at the pool and the rest timer screen is much clearer. Data transfer to Training Peaks is perfect. I don't use the auto-set feature on Garmin as it is far too sensitive of motion during rest, plus it's really unreliable if the rest interval is less than 20s (which most of mine are). I had one session where a descending set of 100s was recorded as one 800 since the rest was only about 15sec between. Now I have auto-lap off and hit the lap button when I push off at the start of a lap and again when I touch the wall at the end to start the rest timer. The watch does an excellent job of recording pool lengths and overall lap distance. I started out by trying to program the workout into the watch and then have the watch run it, but this proved to be cumbersome. First off, there's no truly clean way to get my coach's workout into the watch directly so there was always some manual intervention required. Second, if the watch mis-counted something or I needed to re-start a set the process was extremely frustrating in the pool. Now I just write the workout on a post-it with pencil and stick that to my water bottle. I just use the watch to record the workout. I'm currently using the Garmin to record swim workouts and it's working very well for me.

It’s OK, but the workout builder is kind of cumbersome to use. Lots of tapping, then turning dials, then tapping. Just a poorly conceived user interface. The issue I have with all of them is that you become a slave to the watch in the pool. Need an extra 10s rest? Well you had better hurry up and pause the watch because if you let it get into the next interval then it’s a total pain to back up. I had one workout where it was a series of 25yd sprints with short rest in between. The Apple Watch got totally confused and double-counted laps so it was having me finish the set in half the time. There was no easy way to get out of that so I ended up pausing the watch and finishing the set without recording. It’s so much easier just to write the workout down and let the watch record it. Plus I find that the act of writing it down commits it to memory. I’ve settled on Garmin as it just works better with Training Peaks and that’s a key feature for me. I do wish it was smarter about auto-lap but it has been 100% accurate hitting the lap button after every lap. To be clear when I say lap I don’t mean length of the pool I mean collection of lengths (eg 50s, 100s, etc)

You'll be forced to use MyFitnessPal for food tracking, since the watch and Connect app don't do it natively. I've got a 955 and an index scale and I still don't bother with MFP at all, I use a different app. The watch doesn't really do any good measurement of training load for strength training either, like it shows something but it's inconsistent and won't provide training load recommendations since strength is always considered anaerobic. I agree with OP, unless you intend to do some aerobic work too (hiking, running, cycling, etc) I wouldn't recommend a Garmin just for Strength training.

Would say my FR 955 does just fine for swimming. Only bothers me that sometimes the rest periods glitch a little. I figure other forerunners behave similarly.

Almost every garmin will meet your needs for lap pacing, gps tracking, heart rate etc. The built in maps with turn by turn navigation on the forerunner 955 and 965 are super neat but if you don’t need this feature, it’s quite a premium over the e.g. 255 and 265

Garmin forerunner 965 is amazing - the older 955 is basically the same watch with a worse screen but a lot cheaper. I love my 955 and the battery life is waaaaaay better than my previous garmin the vivoactive 3 (this is old).

Forerunner 955 to track overall workouts/races and an Edge 1030 on the bike for live data during rides/races, though I usually delete that file and keep the one from the watch.

955 Solar. Jack of all trades. It’s my 3rd FR, 6th Garmin device (also have had Edge devices for cycling). Not to mention HR straps. Personally love it.

Garmin 955 linked to Fetcheveryone

Just went for a hike today with my 955. Could see the maps clear as day.

I owned FR955 and it supported all kinds of sports, including Driving. Yes, you can log your drives and routes with Forerunners. There is ONE BIG ADVANTAGE of Forerunner series. As they are very light-weight, you can sleep with them with ease.

>Garmin should work seamlessly with every headphone out there As far as I know, the only real issue is with AirPods. I've used quite a few headphones (including random Chinese/Amazon specials) with the various music Garmin devices (Fenix 5+, Forerunner 245 Music, Forerunner 955) over the years and never had an issue. Seems like there may have been issues with their older devices, but I haven't seen much since then on anything in the last few years. Given Apple's track record about playing nicely with 3rd party devices, I'm not surprised that there's a potential issue. > and offer all the features (and more) compared to a watch that's $400 cheaper. Apples to Oranges. The AWU is like a Corvette. The Fenix is like a Jeep Wrangler. Both are cars, both have different things they excel at. If you want a full featured app store, seamless calls, texts etc, then you need an Apple Watch with an iPhone. Apple limits the API from the iPhone to 3rd party devices, so unless Apple changes that stance, any non Apple Watch will always be more limited. >but one of my biggest pros for Garmin is the smaller 43mm size, which fits better for me. In my opinion, the AWU is a bit too large. If the AWU is too large, then compare the Garmin's battery life to the regular 45mm AW9. The 43mm Garmin destroys the AW9 in battery life.

As far as music, I think it really boils down to how often you’re going to use it. On average, I run about an hour a day and long runs might be two hours or so. Anything longer than that, I’m probably bringing my phone in my running vest anyways as I’m carrying water and nutrition. My personal experience with my 955 is that without music I can generally go about a week without recharging while having a GPS activity every day. With music, it’s about 4 to 5 days. That’s still significantly better than the Apple Watch Ultra. I personally am not sure I understand the use case where you’re just listening to music without doing an activity and you would be using your watch instead of your phone to provide the music.

For lifting you really need a chest strap. I have a Forerunner 955 that is a significant improvement for wrist based heart rate measurements, but it just gives nonsense while I’m lifting or climbing.

Bought the 955 about a month ago. Just beeing able to "monitor" the effects of your life habits on your body helps to improve them (Examples : the effects of a short sleep, the effects of alcohol on your sleep quality). Seeing your stats improving weeks after weeks, the advices given related to your training habits... 255 is the same as 955 just without maps : Go for it ;)

I use my Garmin Forerunner 955 for swimming and running mainly. I haven't had a chance yet to use it with my bike. My previous Garmin worked great for running and with my bike. The sensor that attaches to the bike paired up seamlessly. I've had a good experience with my Forerunner. The pool swim app that comes with it will occasionally miss a lap. No more than 75 yds in a 1200 yd workout.

I bought a 955 about a month ago. Didn't know about the generate route function. Thanks for informing me hahaha

Ive had a few Fenix versions, they are great/ top of the range. Last few years ive been using forerunners which have all the functionality - 9xx series is great, or 2xx for something easier on the pocket. My activities include trail running, hiking, triathlons (and running/swimming/riding only), golf/disc golf. Navigation and battery are good, and glass is strong. Lifestyle is great for sleep, general hr tracking, step counts, tap to pay. The 955 i have also has great multimedia (music). Cant go wrong with a forerunner (solar if you are doing ultra's or multiday). Fenix is a nice splurge

Ive had a few Fenix versions, they are great/ top of the range. Last few years ive been using forerunners which have all the functionality - 9xx series is great, or 2xx for something easier on the pocket. My activities include trail running, hiking, triathlons (and running/swimming/riding only), golf/disc golf. Navigation and battery are good, and glass is strong. Lifestyle is great for sleep, general hr tracking, step counts, tap to pay. The 955 i have also has great multimedia (music). Cant go wrong with a forerunner (solar if you are doing ultra's or multiday). Fenix is a nice splurge

Had Apple Watch 3 and it was terrible in the pool. Switched to the Garmin Venu and now on the forerunner 955. I’ve had no issues with the Garmin, you can select the screens/info you want and it even logs drill sets. Most people I swim with use Garmin. Just make sure that you check the specifics of the model you get as some have more swim features than others.

955, I disabled my touchscreen.

955, and I find myself using the buttons all of the time as well.

Fr955 here, with many years of strength training / tracking metrics under my belt (about a decade and a half). I have experience using a multitude of weight training apps / manual tracking, and in my experience, the watch definitely does an adequate job of tracking weight lifting in the 'free' mode. Obviously the watches are kick ass for tracking running. By no means is it a fantastic tool for tracking workouts, , and apps are certainly better (fitnotes for android is free and the most convenient, off the top of my head), but it absolutely gets the job done and is better than nothing and for me, right now, beats having to use my phone and keeps my hands free for very convenient and consistent upper/lower/opposing muscld circuit style strength training. It guesses free weight movements correctly the majority of the time, for any movement where the arm is being taken through a notable path (bench or db press, rows, squat/dl). It lets you input reps and weight after the movement via prompts with the click of a button, and as long as you remember what movement you were performing, you can always mass edit he workout details (type of exercise, weight lifted, number of reps, set order) with ease afterwards. In terms of data collected, it's handy for tracking total sets, general volume (much less useful than specific body part volume, though), and actual 'work' time during the workout block. It's convenient for tracking rest periods vs. flipping apps in a phon, and the button controls are super convenient. It's not a great resource for deep diving into weight training data like it is for running metrcis, however it can be used to 'quick track' and transfer the important data to a notebook or application afterwards if needed, thereby leaving you to be hands free at the gym - which can be a huge benefit in and of itself. It's very efficient at doing this, much better than pulling out a notebook, IMO, or even having to click through various apps. I've stopped using fitnotes, and the only thing I miss is viewing exercise history in one consolidated place - though if you perform general progressive overload with little variation in programming, this isn't an issue.

Very welcome. Rocking the baby to sleep rn so I have time for another one 😅😂 The 955 is worth every penny, I love it. I feel like it has been a great addition to my routine. As for the other features, I didn't run for very long before I got the watch, but it has definitely helped fuel the fire and keeps me pushing hard while helping me be mindful of my training loads by quantifying and displaying all of the data that it gathers very conveniently. I'm coming from using a fitbit versa 2 and a Samsung watch 4, so it's quite a step up and into an appropriate type of device for what I'm interested in. My wife even ended up ditching an apple watch upgrade to swap over to a 255 music because she enjoyed the ecosystem and the watch functions / data layout. I take the sleep data with a grain of salt. At times it says I've had rough nights when I wake up feeling good and vice versa, but so did my Samsung. I gauge my sleep based on how I feel when I wake up, not what the device tells me. It's just there to tell me a bit more of the 'story', if that makes sense. It does provide accurate, useful data for me in my experience, but it's off now and again. Hrv, training readiness and body battery are pretty neat and IMO good secondary tools to check out and be mindful of after I do my own personal assessments on how I feel/how ready I gauge myself to be for the sessions that I have programmed. And to circle back to the weight lifting function (because of course some people feel the need to down vote an honest and fair critique 😂) - I have trained clients for nearly 10 of my 15 years in the gym, put people on stage, coached individuals through hundreds of lbs of weight loss, setting strength PRs... I am a data dude. Very detailed, very much a nerd lol I have also trained really hard, for a really long time, have been on stage multiple times, hit big lifts at my small stature (bench 315 for reps, squat 435, deadlift 500+) and that doesn't happen (often) without paying attention to the details. If I didn't think the watch could be used as a useful tool towards achieving these types of goals, I wouldn't use it nor would I recommend my clients (or anyone) use it for this purpose. It doesn't do the whole job, but it certainly makes life easier if you use it the right way. It doesn't do the work for you, and it doesn't have to do what it does for running to be successful at assisting with tracking weight lifting. Hr monitoring during the session is really just a bonus and can be useful at times. It absolutely helps you out along the way. Dm if you do get one and want any pointers putting it to use. 👌💪

I mean what exactly do you want to track? If you were an advanced powerlifter you likely are used to a note app(book). Watches will not replace that. I'm fairness, as a gym rat I only wear my 955 for the impact of activity in the gym on my more general metrics (body battery etc) and not for any strictly workout related input.

I have Epix pro gen 2 47mm ss, it is great, got it for 50% off. Don't pay 800, look for discounts, also don't go for newest models, Instinct 2 solar or 2x is great, also Foreruner 955... Find some store and go try them and seek youtube for further info- chase the summit, desi fit...

Most of them are decent at hr without a strap but you’d want something with the elevate v5 sensor for the best data and unfortunately that’s fenix only. The 255 or 955 would be the best bet here but the 255 doesn’t have maps. Also the 965 is great if you want oled instead of MIP

They are all "good enough" without a HR strap tbh. If you don't care *that* much about HR data... you'll get by with wrist as long as it's tight. It's usually pretty accurate for consistent based efforts. It's the intervals/gym sessions a wrist really struggles. Since you mention mapping... look into the Forerunner 965 or 955. Difference is the 965 has an AMOLED display, 955 is what we call MIP. MIP = longer battery life. Both are on sale, 955 is on sale tremendously if that's a route you wanted to go. If you can afford/find a deal on a Fenix 7 Pro that has the most up-to-date wrist-based optical HR sensor which is more accurate than the Forerunner 965 or 955 HRM. Lots of options there, but I've been recommending some friends to get the 955 lately, as I think I've seen $350 for the regular and $400 for solar model prices out there. I think that's an amazing bargain.

I do with my forerunner 955 but it probably isn’t a great idea. I suspect it will shorten the battery life. My iPhone has proactively shut down due to being over temp, but never had the watch do that. You can lookup the operating specs for any price of electronics online - few of them are in the sauna range.

I actually run with both a Garmin 955 and an Apple Watch Ultra 2 so I can keep my phone at home. The AW definitely can give some funky HR data and a lot times measures short or maybe the garmin measures long on the runs but they’re always off by about 0.02 every 1-2 miles ish.  One thing to consider is if you run during the winter. I used to run with AW series 7 and my battery would freeze and the watch would die in the middle of a run regardless of my battery charge. The garmin hasn’t died in the winter before. This will be my first winter with the AWU so we’ll see how it does. 

I love my 955. But I've had a 945 since 2020, I've used it an awful lot for swimming, cycling, walking, golf and the map function has got me out of the shit of couple of times. Recently (December 2024) the screen started to delaminate, Garmin sent me a 955 and it's fab. Touch screen is very good, the overnight report is really informative and it even gives you a weather report. I'd say it's a nice size, not crazy big. Well worth it

FYI: the FR255, compared to the FR955, 265, 965 less training metrics, missing Training Readiness. FR255/955 Mips display versus Amoled others.

Garmin is probably the only smart watch for you then. (Maybe also some Casios, but never used them.) Had Forerunner 955 Solar, Instinct 1, have Instinct 2 and 2X. All of them can be set up fully standalone. All of them have the _option_ to set up time using GPS (manually, no autosync like Casio) if you want, but it's not required. Touch-enabled Garmins with new enough firmware (FR955 with old fw doesn't have that) allow you to scroll graphs with a finger so that you can look in history of various metrics very similar to what the Connect app provides. Even with graph scrolling though, the history of steps and HR can be afaik viewed only for the week, do if you want long term stats, you'll have to manually write that down to a notepad or something. All Garmin watches compute everything by themselves and the Connect app just downloads, saves and displays that data. There's no in-cloud / in-app computation as long as you have only 1 device.

If you're strapped for cash, go for the 255 (with the only major differences between it and the 265 being the AMOLED+touchscreen display - which not everyone prefers - and the Training Readiness metric). But if you're needing full mapping, then probably the 955 will be best. Also, the 975+275 will likely be here in Q2, so that might help push prices down, though it sounds like your Apple watch is needing a replacement pronto.

Agree with everything except battery life - the 965 has a 23-day battery life, versus 15 days for the 955. Just because the display should have better battery life, doesn't mean the *entire watch* actually does. [https://www.garmin.com/en-US/compare/?compareProduct=886725&compareProduct=777655](https://www.garmin.com/en-US/compare/?compareProduct=886725&compareProduct=777655)

Garmin 955 here. If you hold the high button on the left you get into a menu that has the option to lock your watch. If it doesn't show the lock option you hold the middle button, there is a option to activate it.

Garmin Forerunner for sure. Great Battery life. Great feature set. Great integration with cycling computers, powermeters etc. Overall my 955 is perfect for me. 10-12 days of battery

Its the general smoothness that I dont like anymore. I have a Garmin Forerunner 955 now. Its bigger but also has those sharper edges. Which i prefer

It’s a great watch that doesn’t pretty much everything except ECG

Probably something like Instinct 2 or Forerunner 255. Go for the 955 if you can find it for a good price, its a great watch too and has maps while the other two don't. Instinct 2 has Garmin Explore integration though.

I have a forerunner 955 which might be slightly out of your price bracket I use it mainly for swimming and running. It will depend on what you need. If you need route maps and swim coaching the more expensive garmins will be key, if you just want to run and swim and track heart distance and laps then the cheaper forerunners will be ideal. Also look at weight of watches as some are heaver and you will notice it on your wrist when swimming. I tried a fenix for a bit but did not like it

Truly the last MIPs display 9xx forerunners. It's great and has the juice to last more than 7hrs of running. GPS is very accurate for me. The solar edition isn't all that great since it doesn't charge but delays battery use. Has only up to 7 data fields. A very light weight watch that I sometimes can't tell if I am wearing it or not without looking at my wrist. Not having a strap quick release is a bit of a bummer. 9/10 for me.

955 is great value for money. The only difference between the 965 and 955 is amoled though coming from Apple Watch the pixel display on the 955 might be a shock but I personally love it.

I've got an AW and 955. As others have said, AW is a smart watch Garmin is a fitness watch. Do you need battery life for long runs/rides? Garmin Do you need cell service/text/calls? Apple I wear my AW most of the time because its got my work calendar on it plus I get texts etc. I also use it for swimming, surfing, and sports where I don't want to bring my phone because I need cell service. I had an emergency surfing about 5 yrs ago and got an apple watch with cell service immediately after. This is one area garmin fails. I wear my 955 for my runs and workouts. I find it track HR much better - no drops. If you are wearing a chest strap then they would both be the same for that. I prefer garmin for sleep tracking as well. Pretty sure bike power meters wont play nice with AW either. As far as health stats, I actually use healthfit for both AW and Garmin which gives me more than either of them.

Depending on how serious she is about running, I would consider the 965 (especially with the sales). I have the 955 (same watch, different screen, but she may like the brightness of the 965) and absolutely love the navigation feature (I have trail and road courses entered for turn-by-turn directions) and having live tracking available for races (allows my family to track my progress and send me messages).

The 165 is a very bare bones running watch. If you want better battery life, more metrics and AMOLED screen go w the 265, but the 955 is a VERY good watch w essentially all the bells and whistles as the 965 sans amoled. There is a handy little comparison tool on garmin website so you can side by side the specs, though. Welcome to the cult!

For what it's worth also take a look at the 955. It is essentially the same watch except it has the classic Garmin MIP screen instead of the new AMOLED screen that all the 65 series watches have. Since it's a previous generation it should be a little cheaper. Battery life for MIP screens is also usually a little better. Personally I prefer the look of MIP vs AMOLED which pushed me towards getting that version. Regardless of which one you choose it's a great watch and I am very happy with my 955

I've had the forerunner 955 for about 2 months now and I highly highly recommend

I use a Garmin FR955 and it still looks and functions like brand new, even after a year of swimming / running / weight lifting nearly every day.

This depends on how you want to track your sessions. Some people prefer to start "strength training" when enter a gym and stop it at the end. I use my watch to follow my program like described here: [https://gelberhut.com/strength-training-with-a-garmin-in-a-gym/](https://gelberhut.com/strength-training-with-a-garmin-in-a-gym/) If you want to do the same - a watch which allows to adjust weight/rep number using the touch screen is handy. I know that venu3 and F8 support this, not sure about other models. PS: Not that long ago, Garmin released strength coach (https://gelberhut.com/garmin-strength-coach-what-is-it-and-what-can-it-do/), if you want it: check one of Garmin Venu 3, Garmin Fenix 8, Garmin Vivoactive 5, Forerunner 255, Forerunner 265, Forerunner 955, Forerunner 965.

I have been playing with the strength app on a fenix 8 and my FR 955. I am trying to figure out if Strength activity affects other metrics like training readiness, endurance, body battery, training status etc, differently than if you just select Cardio activity and track your sets reps weights elsewhere. Do you know the answer to that?

I can make a series watch last for an Olympic distance on low power mode. Even then I still need to charge to get through the rest of the day. My Garmin 955 will last for a complete Ironman with 65% of the battery left. I still sometimes use my Apple Watch for shorter runs or bike rides if I forget to change it out, but the Garmin is my go to training watch.

Hi, I too did alot of research and ended up with the Garmin 955 solar. My main focus was battery life and didn’t care to use my watch as a phone like I believe Apple would have been. I’m enjoying it and all of the sport features. My only concern is that the step tracker seems to be a bit off or maybe the Fitbit I used in the past was overly sensitive and counting too many steps?! Anyways if you google forerunner 955 videos there are some nice ones. Good luck!

If maps aren't needed the 255 is your go to option, or the 265 if you prefer amoled. Bought a 955 last week, basically for every day use, running and health insights. Did weeks of reading reviews and comparisons. But am really happy with this one.

Still the 955. Like the MIP screen, the bigger screen, MAPS and the longer battery life.

If you love data then get the 965, if you only like data, then get the 265. 965 has a decent amount of extra features but they are somewhat frivolous. Heat/altitude acclimation, maps and golf are the main ones that I've personally noticed day to day (I have the 955 which is the same as 965, just not OLED). I think you get extra running metrics as well but don't quote me. 50% better battery life on the 965 and also better quality glass and materials. Maps have been really useful for me, but that's cause I don't have a bike computer. Obviously they are a lot of money but I think it's been worth the cost considering its something I use everyday and wear 24/7. I've heard that the new coros computer is barely usable so I wouldnt be that excited about it yet.

FR 955 ftw

I had a Garmin Forerunner 35 for ages. Had all the basic functions I wanted, and kept going for years. The heart rate monitor eventually died, and could not be mended or replaced, so I upgraded to the Forerunner 955 (then the top of the range) and I’ve been completely happy with it. I was dithering about getting a Fenix, but decided against it because it looked wrong on my wrist (they are chunkier) However when I was trying to decide based on the specs, I couldn’t tell them apart. I don’t think there’s a wrong choice here

Second this! I've used FitBit, Apple, and Garmin. Garmin is definitely my favorite. Even if you're not a runner, it's still amazing to use. It offers a lot of great metrics for sleep, health, and performance. I personally have the Forerunner 955, but any Forerunner will be more than enough.

would suggest that too. Price is pretty low at the moment due to the only marginally better 965 (imo)

did you have both? I had. In my opinion the difference is not worth the mark-up. It did change nearly nothing in my charging but perhaps i'm not outside enough between 10am and 15pm. Afterwards it was hard to get good values especially in the winter half year and outside a 90 degree angle to the sun.

I would say for your price point the 255 Music is the best option out there. If you see the 265 Music with a good deal go with that (8GB instead of 4GB storage, OLED). The weight and size is still great. The 955, 965 are great as well (16Gb storage I think) but in my opinion to bulky. Forerunner 165 is nice but lacks some features. Fenix and such models are too heavy (my opinion ;)

I have all phone notifications disabled on my Forerunner and on my Garmin Edge. So it works just as you expected - it records my activities and syncs them to Garmin Connect / Strava afterwards.

Apple Watch is a fair contenter in the triathlon watch realm, even if it's the regular watch and not an Ultra. Sure, you're limited by the battery, but my previous watch (Series 6) has survived two 70.3 races without any issues or mid-race recharges. My main complaint about it is the reliance on third-party apps and the fact that said apps are subscription-based - which is why all my training is done "by Garmin" - in my case Forerunner 955 Solar - and Apple Watch (currently Series 8) acts as a secondary/backup recording device. The app situation improves year after year (this year Apple is finally bringing proper structured swimming support), but lots of features available out of the box on Garmin, Coros, Polar or Suunto watches are not there. If you don't mind the subscriptions - you can replicate quite a lot of top-end Garmin/Coros experience on an Apple Watch, but it will be a disconnected (in terms of data) and expensive (in terms of price) journey.

Maybe the MIP siblings of the fr 265/965. You lose the bright and crisp AMOLED display but get the almost the same watch at a huge discount. The 955 is cheaper than the 265 in my region.

My wife has the vivoactive 5. She recently started running and finds it rather basic compared to the running metrics and functionalities I get from my forerunner. The things she would like to have the most, that are not on the Vivoactive, are Daily Suggested Workout and breadcrumb trails.

There’s also the 955 to consider. I like the maps feature. I use it sometimes for routing a lot of times so I know the remaining distance and remaining climbs I have left on a bike ride or a run. Sometimes I don’t use a route but will use the navigate back to start or loop to start feature when I’m heading back for the same reason.

Just made the switch from an AW9 to the Forerunner 955 and never looked back. It depends on what you want. As other's have mentioned: AW is an extension of your iPhone and basically a smartwatch with fitness features. Garmin is a fitness tracker/outdoor watch with smartwatch featues. On the AW you need way more apps and subscriptions to "receive" the same data, or at least get it interpreted, like on the Garmin. Battery life is a dream compared to the AW. Things like notification mirroring for example still work, which surprised me. (deleting a notification on the watch also deletes it on my phone). Thought that would be an AW thing. But I'm also not that familiar with other smartwatches. I also have to mention that I'm still a beginner in running, but also the "daily suggested workouts" feature helps a lot! In the end it's a thing of preference. For me, the watch is motivating me in some way. If you're really into sports or just starting, I think this is a great gadget. If you're more on the "yeah going for a run/bike ride every few weeks" or "using the AW so I don't have to use/look at my phone that often" side, get the AW. Hope this is somewhat understandable and helpful.

I’d also recommend going for a Forerunner. Forerunners are built for running and can be used for swimming. An Instinct 2 lacks for example Garmin Run Coach, which the Forerunners have.

IMHO Apple does fitness tracking better than Garmin. Esp. sleep tracking is more accurate, plus you get ECG on most Apple Watches. In the US, blood oxygen tracking is currently disabled for new Apple Watches. Btw. I am wearing both, Garmin and Apple (I like redundancy for marathons, plus my Apple Watch has LTE, while my Forerunner does not)

255 is great if you can do without maps (at least it can show a track that you upload to it). 955 has full blown maps. Do you dislike straps in general, or just chest straps? Because Polar has really good arm straps. Like the Polar Verity Sense.

955 is probably the best buy for the price and functionality .it's basically 965 at 265 price with better battery life

If you dont mind 2nd hand I would suggest 955 solar Have maps , mip display(my opinion better than amoled one for outdoor) , solar charging

Mm if u like the go for it I personally would get the solar one again it's my personal opinion

No just the solar but I live In a warm climate here it's totally worth it

Great I’ve learn something today for the strap. I need to look that up. But 955 is a great watch.

The 955 is an excellent option. All the features you could possibly need coming from and Apple Watch and I’m sure you’ll be happy with it.

I’d at least go for 955 over 255

I've just bought one because I too feel it may be the last MIP watch.

The silliest thing I can mention about the 955 (and later models) is the switch to Garmin Quickfit instead of Quick Release. What on earth was that about? The model you buy doesn't even use the Quickfit strap. The older Quick release was perfect. [https://support.garmin.com/en-GB/?faq=DZfMTnLxxI4W5zYfsA2SL6](https://support.garmin.com/en-GB/?faq=DZfMTnLxxI4W5zYfsA2SL6)

I went from 245S to 955. It's bigger but clearer. I really wanted HRV and Stamina and full maps. If anyone needs to understand more there is a full video review here [https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2022/06/forerunner-955-review-complete-beginners.html](https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2022/06/forerunner-955-review-complete-beginners.html)

Garmin seem to be the best overall. Apple/Samsung - Poor battery life, lack of buttons and ease of use etc. I know they have improved but I can do everything on my Garmin in torrential rain and covered in mud. I also really liked the Polar Vantage V3 and Suunto Race, but was put off by reviews of their HR accuracy and slowness of their operating system. They may even have better training features than Garmin, but overall I went with the 955.

There were some limitations of the 165 that made me choose the 265. The features can be compared on the Garmin site. And chances are, some reputable reviewer such as DesFit or DCRainmaker has made an in deep comparison between the two. Ahhh... here is one https://youtu.be/pD77vx9x0Ig?si=o9NNSmrrqm29_RrO I was reluctant to get the 955 because I know I do not need navigation on my watch and the 900 series are pretty big watches (I wear them at night to also monitor sleep). But function-wise, it is a good choice. Especially if you prefer a MIP screen. From a budget vs. function perspective, the 255Music is a great running watch....if I crashed my 265 today, I'd likely get one. I'm still bemoaning the MIP display that I gave up with getting the 265.

Using Garmin Forerunner 955 (Solar) for the past 1 year. No complaints. Does the job neatly. If you are looking for too many smart watch features than a fitness tracker, try iOS or Android based ones.

Bought one around October last year for 359 EUR, very happy with it. I also tried some OLED watches: 965, Suunto Race S, Coros Pace Pro and didn't like them. I'll take OLED for all my screens but prefer MIP for my watch.

The 2x5 line is much better for running than the 165, so I wouldn't recommend the 165. I find that Garmin watch are pretty bad at handling audio content (music, but especially podcasts and audiobooks). Coming from running only my Apple Watch, I switched to running with my 255 and my phone. So personally, I wouldn't recommend getting the music version. As for the 955, it does have maps and little more over the 255/265. It really comes down to how much you like to run in new places where maps are needed (and even then, the breadcrumbs map on the 255 can be handy).

if you need maps buy 965, if not go for 265. If you even do not need OLED go 255. If you need battery go for the one with more battery capability. Don’t get fooled by fancy metrics you’ll never use. I have a 955. Very happy with it. I was happy also with my 245 without mapping and using the preloaded tracks. Only reason I upgraded was screen size e possibility to have 5 fields on the screen. Other than that it was perfect, and I still miss how it was disappearing on my wrist in terms of weight, bulkiness and band size. Consider used to try it out or go to a local shop to play with it and see how it feels at your wrist. Also consider a nylon band (ultrafit by garmin or a similar amazon one) since it is mor stretchy, secures better, breaths better then silicon.

if you need oled no maps go 265. If you need no oled no maps 255. If you need maps and oled 965, if you need maps no oled 955. Must say I was also happy with my 245 using preloaded tracks to follow (you just do not have tha background image only a track. I switche to 955 because I needed more fields on my screen (fr245 had only 4) and I do trail running. I am happy with my 955 but I dont really am a fun of maps, I still use my phone for that. I could have been ok with the slicker and lighter 255. I still miss how the 245was disappearing on my wrist in terms of weight, bulkiness and band size. Consider to buy used to try it out or go to a local shop to play with it and see how it feels at your wrist. Also consider a nylon band (ultrafit by garmin or a similar amazon one) since it is more stretchy, secures better, breaths better then silicon. Trust me, you dont need touch screen on a sport watch. Garmin one is also bad in my experience. Also dont get fooled by fancy metrics you will never use.

+1. Or lightly used 955.

Garmin Forerunner 955 Solar and its fantastic. I charge it once a week if that.

I've had one for two months exactly. Solar version which doesn't charge as much as it is a way to keep history of how much sunlight you're getting

Solar intensity is basically just an unexpected way for me to keep history of how long I've spent under direct sunlight and at what time.

Why not 955 then? 965 is twice the price of 255

955 also has a touch screen

I've used either a Forerunner 9xx or a Fēnix for about 6 years. If you give it about 5 minutes before you swim to leatch onto as many satellites as possible after it says it has a GPS fix it's pretty good. If you dive in as soon as you get the tick, it's crap.

I use Garmin forerunner watch, sync Strava with Garmin Connect and sync Komoot with Strava. It works like a charm.

I have a Garmin Edge bike computer and chest based heart rate because I like to see my speed on the handlebars rather than having to look at my watch. It also navigates for me on more adventurous rides and race courses I'm unfamiliar with. For local social rides I just track on my Garmin Forerunner watch.

Runs are the same concept as rides. Personally, I use purpose-built devices to record: Garmin Edge bike computer, Garmin Forerunner watch (they also both do navigation, connect to heart rate sensors, watch does music, etc.). When I stop an activity and hit save, it's uploaded to Strava before I can even get the garage door open. I don't want to carry my phone on a run, and I don't want to run down the battery on all-day rides.

I actually prefer my old Vivoactive to the Forerunner. I'm a slow jogger, and this Forerunner is demotivating because it tells me how much I suck.

I’ve had and loved garmin forerunners and a coros pace. Slight preference for coros over garmin for battery life. Slight preference for garmin for multi-app interoperability.  I’m actually planning to buy an Apple Watch because it’s fine as a fitness tracker and has better health tracking capabilities on top of the fitness stuff. 

I was doing gym work exclusively, got a Forerunner. Somehow ended up a runner .. you’ve been warned lol The daily suggestions of going for a run brainwashed me I think! But there are worse things to happen in life

Mine’s always been quite low, I have asthma, asthmatic Garmin users seem to say just ignore it Just in case it doesn’t improve and you feel dejected like I did, have a read online, plenty of stuff like this https://uphillathlete.com/aerobic-training/max-vo2-myth/ it probably doesn’t mean as much as the faith we place in it! But good luck in your training!

Not having a screen doesn't really seem like much of a selling point. It's nice to have the watch function and access to other data bits on the screen. I have an older Garmin Forerunner that I've used for about 8 years.

Garmin Forerunners are a great fitness watch.

Garmin Forerunner does a great job. I like the Apple Watch, but the battery life kills me. With my Garmin, I can use it to track swims, runs, and bike ride and I still only need to charge it once a week.

I had a Vivoactive for years that died and I switch to a forerunner a few weeks ago. I am super happy, much better battery, I love the training analysis features it pushes me to work on my cardio as I am more into strength.

My Garmin Forerunner does a decent job tracking lap swimming. It struggles with open water but I do'nt do that very often.

Coros or garmin pace or forerunner, if you like music while running get the garmin, if your more minimalist (smaller screen, simpler interface) get the coros

I turn it off on my garmin forerunner as it drives me mad and once it’s off you never get notifications. Even after system updates and stuff. Easy peasy

As the other comments here say, Forerunner or instinct. It will not give you the equivalent experience to a Samsung watch, as they are sport/activity focused by design. It has all the basic functionality of a smart watch, Bluetooth connection, notification alerts (some just say you have a notification, others will aloow you to read and respond, so do your research). Forerunner is the entry level fitness device, so it may be best for you, and the instinct is a little more 'I just want a watch that's also connected' vibes. The vivosmart is a half step down from the Forerunner, and yes, super basic, will probably be in the category of just letting you know you have a message, but I'm not sure, as I don't have one. Forerunner also has built-in GPS, which vivosmart does not.

I've got a Forerunner that I wear to keep an eye on hearth rate, but that's about it. I generally mark beginning and end, and sometimes when there's a big change in the section of the sequence - from standing/balancing to seated/prone sections. I'll also often hit the pose button if it's been one of those days and I need to tap out to hero/corpse. The problem you're going to find is that the watch would have to sense very specific motion and velocity to figure out when a pose has changed. I can't think of a watch anywhere with that much sensitivity.

I have a Garmin Forerunner, hopefully soon to upgrade to Fenix. Anyway, it has the quickfit watch strap, so I have an orange band on it all the time, and for formal occasions I have the chestnut leather band, takes all of 30s to swap them over 👍🏻

I’d check Facebook Marketplace for a used Garmin Forerunner. They are good watches for running and biking, and they also have good sleep-tracking if you decide to wear it 24/7.

Garmin all the way if you are using android The tracking is really quite good and the features arent exactly advanced for a beginner, it walks you through basically everything Ive seen a few forerunners or vivoactive go on sale for slightly over 200. Abit higher than your budget but imo worth it, it will last you even when you are no longer a beginner

get a low digit garmin Forerunner, they do what you are looking for

I have the forerunner and I haven’t as it’s not rated for that kind of temp. However google searching has people going into the sauna with their Garmin without issue so it’s really a personal risk / reward scenario.

For a long time, I only ran with my phone and used the Map My Run app, and then switched to Strava. I used live tracking on the apps as I ran, but I didn’t have a watch to see how it was going in real time. Both apps have voiceovers that tell you when you hit a mile and your pace.  I ran my first half marathon and had no clue what my heart rate was, which is what made me get a little more serious afterwards. I got a cheap Garmin forerunner to start with, and moved on from there! So you don’t necessarily need anything, but if you get more serious with it, a watch is nice to have! A running belt like Flipbelt or SPI belt is handy to carry your phone.

It depends on your goals. If youre wanting to squeeze the most out of each session then more data will allow you to do that. If youre not that fussed and just happy to be doing some cardio and you can gauge your effort based on feel then that would be fine too. I use a garmin forerunner for HR zones during running and cycling (+ chest strap monitor), and as a stop watch when swimming. I dont bother to monitor anything else as Im not hoping for a podium nor do I change my training depending on any data in particular. Edit; It should also be noted that its only worth tracking data if you actually know what to do with the information

Dammit I loved my Forerunner, I pool swam, ran, trail ran, hiked, OWS, you name it, and the watch is awesome. It holds music so I can run with just the watch. Tracking was great. The numbers were big enough to read I had it for 3 years, and the plastic bracket that holds the wrist strap pin broke. I am using my sons Google watch and I curse every time I have to look at it. I keep thinking I'll get used to it and eventually love it. Nope I hate it every day. So now I run with 2 fitness trackers, the Garmin without a strap, in my pocket and my every day Google watch on my wrist. Buy the Garmin

Forerunners are much lighter weight and therefore much more comfortable to wear.

I have a Garmin forerunner and it’s great for fitness tracking and everything else, I wear it all day every day. It will give you yardages to front middle and back, and it’s pretty accurate. I mainly use my range finder though so I don’t often use the watch for golf. I was thinking about making the switch to a more golf forward version and the epix pro is the top of my list. It has unbelievable golf functionality but is also a great fitness watch. The only better “golf feature” garmin is the S62 or similar, but they aren’t as convenient for fitness tracking IMO. Garmin kicks ass though, I highly recommend it. The site DC rainmaker is a good resource, that dude has reviews on every damn garmin product I think

Garmin forerunner for sure. I got myself a Garmin venu 3 and it’s good but there’s a few features the forerunners have that I miss. I use that combined with Strava for community, Garmin connect app for stats, and Runna app for training plans. They all connect together. Runna automatically sends runs to my watch, then the watch sends the stats back to all three apps when I’m done 👍 Edit: it also all sends the data to my Apple health and my Lifesum dieting app which updates my daily calorie intake based on activity level

I use my Garmin forerunner Yes it's fine with chalk, though the buttons used to go smoother Yes it gets scratched but hey, so do I

Apple Watch will do fine for a long time - only got a Garmin last year. However once you go to only having to charge your watch once every two weeks you just can’t go back to Apple. I have a Garmin Fenix (on the $$$ side) but I wear it every day as my normal watch too and have had zero issues making the switch. However there’s heaps in the range, I love accuracy, maps, long battery and lots and lots of data so I can overthink every run - so Fenix it is! The forerunners are great and the vivoactives are a good mid range model. There’s other brands like Suunto, Polar etc. For true accuracy on any wrist watch you may need a chest monitor. But if you really like your Apple Watch I found it pretty good unless you’re somewhere with not much reception

You can’t respond to notifications with it. I have the S and I’m in love with it!

The Vivoactive 4s or the forerunner are my favorite intro garmins. That being said, the Venu 3 is probably the best intro at the moment since it has more accurate sensors (I just prefer the transflective displays as opposed to the amoled displays) The main reason I got a Garmin was due to the metrics at the start of covid. That being said, now I often use it to track metrics when walking the dogs, or as a way to see the watch readings if I’m feeling off. As an example, when I got covid I was able to use the readings to check my recovery metrics, which was nice.

I use Garmin Forerunner. But I am not interested in smart watch stuff, and only fitness (though you can still pick calls, change music), so it works for me and it lasts for weeks. However, if you want something more straightforward it also probably isn't for you. It has tons of data and some of it is hard to read unless you go out of your way to learn what it is.

If you want to get healthy and get phone notifications and *maybe* do music or something, get a Garmin. Instinct 2 (gives music controls but requires a phone for the music itself) or a used Forerunner (I believe they're done of the cheapest models that do on-board music, Spotify, etc.) or what have you. If you want to do smartphone stuff on your wrist and *maybe* get healthy, go Samsung.

Get a garmin forerunner best investment I’ve ever made

Well, it is not necessary, but definitely it helps. I’d recommend you to buy at least some basic Garmin Forerunner - it doesn’t cost much, has a decent battery life and is light. Regarding AW, for marathon, you should buy ultra, which is a lot of money. Whoops is more an add-on than running tracker. It’s not very comfortable to run with a phone and the watch shows live metrics, which is very useful. So yes, you should.

To add to everyone else’s comments - mines have lasted very well. My first Forerunner works after a decade, I just replaced it with a Fenix a few years back. After four years it’s never had any issues. Yes they aren’t the cheapest but it is worth the investment.

I have a Whoop band that I really like for tracking activities. It’s not a watch - doesn’t have a face to it at all - but I think it does a good job tracking sleep/activities and horse riding is an option for activity on it. You don’t pay up front for it - it’s a $35/month service fee. So while not a big expense up front, it obviously adds up over time, which is not necessarily for everyone.  I wear a garmin forerunner on my other wrist too. I like that as well, but I have to say I prefer the app and the data provided by the whoop. I basically only use my forerunner for the actual watch face at this point.  Edit: I just checked whoops website and they do offer a $399 up front fee for 2 year membership. 

The forerunner line is geared towards running and triathlon. They are excellent watches. You can get them relatively cheap used.

The forerunner will meet and exceed all your needs except one. What type of integration are you requiring? Basic smart notifications?

used Garmin like Fenix or forerunner, or just used Apple Watch 6 they are like 70-$100

Basically any modern smartwatch will do this. Your axes of choice are ecosystem, battery life, and price. The basic Apple Watch will do what you want, but because you’re using the GPS, the battery will be dead mid-day. I do not recommend any Apple Watch but the Ultra for an athlete or active person because of the awful battery life. If you want something cheaper than the Ultra, I’d look at the Coros Pace and cheaper Garmin Forerunner options. They’ll both cost about half and are really good products with roughly 5-10x battery life vs the basic Apple Watch.

Oh wow I didn’t know the Ultra 2 also had that issue. Honestly after getting a garmin watch, I don’t think I can go back.

Garmin forerunners have hrv, you don't need a special app. But again, sleep tracking isn't great

I use Strava and the Whithings app, paired with one of their smart scales and a few add ons. Apple Health can pull from both, and while I don't care about my daily steps (for example) they automatically pull from my watch (forerunner) into the various apps as well.

Can't go wrong with Garmin imho. I've had a fenix and a couple of forerunners, and they've all worked great.

I have been trying to get going as a runner for a few years but kept getting injured... anyway I've had a Garmin Forerunner for a few years as well and I am happy with it. It's useful as an everyday watch but also has built in training programs. I'm going through one right now for a half marathon in May and it's going well. I did six miles yesterday (the farthest I've ever ran in my life) and I feel great today. It is durable, has great battery life, and for the money is a pretty good bargain imo. I would suggest it to anyone.

Three things to consider that comes to my mind. 1. If you are only looking to track runs(no use for daily health metrics) then you can just wear the running watch during the run, and then put the watch away after you are done. That is what I do with my Garmin Forerunner. I do my run with the watch and then after I come back home the Forerunner gets turned off and put away. 2. Alternative option is to just use your phone's GPS data to track run data. Personally I tried this method, and I wasn't a fan because the phone GPS would struggle to find me sometimes and I'd end up with a weird run distance and times. Non watch style fitness tracking device would likely also have this issue where the GPS function is either non-existent or not as accurate as the watch style running watches. 3. Lastly, I'd just run by time and effort without any tracking if you are just starting out. Time on feet will likely matter more for your progress than accurate distance or speed measures. Set a timer on your phone and run until the timer goes off, then turn around and run back to the starting point. Slowly increase the time on the timer over as you get better. This is more or less what I did when starting out, and I still use this method when going for an easy run.

If you don’t wanna get a dedicated computer like the Garmin edge. Then get a forerunner or fenix.

That's what I did, I had a Forerunner and when it was time to upgrade, went ahead and upgraded to Fenix.

Garmin ecosystem is chocked full of goodness. Since I run and cycle, it’s great for multi sport. A lot of folks who only run seem to love Coros watches and their environment. I think either of those (with Strava integration) would be an improvement over your Apple Watch.

People have to stop comparing these. These are for two different people. I would never wear an Apple Watch based on battery life alone. I specifically got the Garmin for a wrist based gps and mapping tool to track and orient myself. You buy an Apple Watch to use smart features and be connected to your phone. Garmin has never been in that market. It’s a whole company based on gps systems for outdoor activities . You buy an Apple Watch to have Apple ecosystem. you can’t use half the feature of the fenix on an iPhone bc they only want you to use their watch… Garmin are all specifically made for their audience even down the the model . Apple watches are just to keep you plugged into your phone and have no bearing on actual outdoor activities despite calling it ultra. The Millitary has been orienteering with Garmin wrist based gps systems forever. You’d never catch an Apple Watch on patrol in Afghanistan. 😂